Peak detector having extended dynamic range

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a peak detector having extended dynamic range comprises a first differential output coupled to a supply voltage of the peak detector by a first load and coupled to ground by first and second switching devices, and a second differential output coupled to the supply voltage by a second load and coupled to ground by third and fourth switching devices. The control terminals of the first, second, third, and fourth switching devices receive a common bias voltage, and the respective first and second control terminals are configured as differential inputs of the peak detector. In some embodiments, corresponding first power terminals of the first and second switching devices share a first common node further shared by the first differential output, and corresponding first power terminals of the third and fourth switching devices share a second common node further shared by the second differential output.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally in the field of electronic circuitsand systems. More specifically, the present invention is in the field ofcommunications circuits and systems.

2. Background Art

Transceivers are typically used in communications systems to supporttransmission and reception of communications signals through a commonantenna, for example at radio frequency (RF) in a cellular telephone orother mobile communication device. A transmitter routinely implementedin such a transceiver in the conventional art may utilize severalprocessing stages to condition and preamplify a transmit signal prior topassing the transmit signal to a power amplifier (PA). In manyapplications, it may be advantageous to adjust the transmit power levelof the PA in order to conserve power, and a peak detector may beimplemented to help enable that process. For example, the transmittermay adjust, e.g., reduce, its transmit power according to the peak valueof a communication signal as measured by its peak detection circuit.

A peak detector implemented in a transmitter is typically designed toprovide a direct-current (DC) output corresponding to the peak value ofa modulated and preamplified transmit signal provided as an input signalto the peak detector. Conventional peak detectors normally provide noadditional amplification, and in practice may attenuate the inputsignal. Moreover, conventional peak detectors are well known to sufferthe dual drawbacks of low sensitivity and low dynamic range. At best,conventional peak detectors provide a DC output approaching the peakvalue of their input signals, but that may occur only for input signalshaving an optimized frequency range. Consequently, conventional peakdetectors may not reliably provide accurate information about transmitsignal strength and thereby frustrate power conservation objectives,which may be particularly undesirable when the transceiver isimplemented in a mobile communication device powered by a battery.

Thus, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in theart by providing a peak detector having an extended dynamic range,suitable for implementation as part of a more modern mobile devicetransceiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a peak detector having extendeddynamic range, substantially as shown in and/or described in connectionwith at least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely inthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transmitter including a peak detectorhaving extended dynamic range, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2A, is a block diagram showing elements of a peak detector circuithaving extended dynamic range, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B, is a graph contrasting the positive gain achievable throughimplementation of one or more embodiments of the present invention, withthe less than unity gain typically provided by conventional peakdetectors.

FIG. 2C, is a block diagram showing elements of a peak detector circuithaving extended dynamic range, according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing elements of a peak detector circuithaving extended dynamic range, according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing elements of a peak detector circuithaving extended dynamic range, according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a peak detector having extendeddynamic range. Although the invention is described with respect tospecific embodiments, the principles of the invention, as defined by theclaims appended herein, can obviously be applied beyond the specificallydescribed embodiments of the invention described herein.

Moreover, in the description of the present invention, certain detailshave been left out in order to not obscure the inventive aspects of theinvention. The details left out are within the knowledge of a person ofordinary skill in the art.

The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detaileddescription are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of theinvention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention,which use the principles of the present invention are not specificallydescribed in the present application and are not specificallyillustrated by the present drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of transmitter 100 including peak detector150 having extended dynamic range, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, capable of overcoming the disadvantages associatedwith conventional designs. As may be seen from FIG. 1, transmitter 100may be configured to support multiple transmission modes and/or multipletransmission frequencies. For example, transmitter 100 can be configuredto support high-band transmission frequencies in a range betweenapproximately 1.8 GHz and 2.2 GHz, as well as low-band transmissionfrequencies ranging between approximately 0.8 GHz and 1.1 GHz. It isnoted that the implementational arrangement shown in FIG. 1, as well asthe circuits represented by FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3, and 4 of the presentapplication are for the purpose of assisting in the understanding of andconveying various concepts of the present invention. Elements shown inthose figures are representations of physical and electrical elementsused in implementing various embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, transmitter 100 includes power amplifier (PA) 192,which can be coupled to an antenna utilized by transmitter 100 (antennanot shown in FIG. 1). As further shown in FIG. 1, transmitter 100includes a front-end comprising digital block 112 providing in-phase (I)and quadrature phase (Q) output signals to respective digital-to-analogconverters (DACs) 122 a and 122 b. In addition, and as also shown inFIG. 1, transmitter 100 includes adjustable low-pass filters (adjustableLPFs) 124 a and 124 b. To support high-band frequency channels as wellas low-band frequency channels, transmitter 100 includes respectivehigh-band mixer 126 a and low-band mixer 126 b, which may be implementedas passive circuits, for example. In addition, transmitter 100 includeshigh-band variable gain control PA driver 130 a and low-band variablegain control PA driver 130 b providing a preamplified transmit signal toPA 192.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are transmitter phase-locked loop (TX PLL) 127 andlocal oscillator generator (LOGEN) 128, as well as feedback calibrationstage 140 including peak detector 150 having extended dynamic range, andanalog-to-digital converter (ADC) 190 providing digital calibrationfeedback to digital block 112. Although TX PLL 127 and LOGEN 128 areshown in duplicate in FIG. 1 for the purposes illustrative clarity, inpractice, a single combination of TX PLL 127 and LOGEN 128 can becoupled to both variable gain control PA drivers 130 a and 130 b, andcan be shared by respective high-band and low-band mixers 126 a and 126b as well.

As mentioned above, the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be implemented tosupport multiple transmission modes, such as transmission modesemploying quadrature modulation schemes and transmission modes employingpolar modulation, for example. For instance, in FIG. 1, transmissionmodes employing quadrature modulation can be associated with the solidline signal paths linking I and Q outputs of digital block 112 tovariable gain control PA drivers 130 a and 130 b through respectiveDAC/adjustable LPF/mixer combinations 122 ab/124 ab/126 a and 122 ab/124ab/126 b. Analogously, transmission modes employing polar modulation canbe associated with the dashed line signal paths linking digital block112 to variable gain control PA drivers 130 a and 130 b through TX PLL127.

It is noted that although the pre-PA signal paths shown in FIG. 1 arerepresented by single lines for simplicity, many of those signals cancomprise paired differential signals. Thus, the I and Q outputs ofdigital block 112 passed to mixers 126 a and 126 b, the outputs ofmixers 126 a and 126 b, the polar mode outputs of digital block 112passed to variable gain control PA drivers 130 a and 130 b through TXPLL 127, and the feedback calibration signal returned to digital block112 by ADC 190, for example, can comprise differential signals. It isfurther noted that the signal paths internal to variable gain control PAdrivers 130 a and 130 b, as well as the feedback signals provided bythose variable gain control PA drivers to feedback calibration stage 140and the outputs 158 a and 158 b of peak detector 150 having extendeddynamic range, are explicitly shown as differential signals.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the I and Q signal paths provided byrespective DACs 122 a and 122 b and adjustable LPFs 124 a and 124 b canbe shared between the high-band and low-band transmission signals.Moreover, digital block 112, TX PLL 127, LOGEN 128, feedback calibrationstage 140 including peak detector 150 having extended dynamic range, ADC190, and PA 192 may be shared in common by all transmission modes andall transmission frequency bands. Consequently, transmitter 100 ischaracterized by a compact space saving architecture that may beparticularly well suited to meet increasingly fine dimensional and lowerpower consumption constraints as fabrication technologies transition tothe 40 nm node, for example, and beyond.

Transmitter 100 may be implemented as part of a communicationstransceiver, for example, utilized in a cellular telephone or othermobile communication device operating at RF, such as in a frequencyrange from approximately 0.8 GHz to approximately 2.2 GHz. Moreover, inone embodiment, transmitter 100 can be implemented as part of atransceiver integrated circuit (IC) fabricated on a single semiconductordie using a 40 nm process technology, for example.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3, and 4, those figures show respectivepeak detectors 250A, 250C, 350, and 450 having extended dynamic range,according to various embodiments of the present invention. Each of peakdetectors 250A, 250C, 350, and 450 shown in respective FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3,and 4, can correspond to peak detector 150, in FIG. 1. However, it isnoted that while the innovative extended dynamic range peak detector ofthe present invention, and its related concepts, can be advantageouslyimplemented in an RF transmitter, such as transmitter 100, in FIG. 1,the present peak detector having extended dynamic range may be used inany RF component or device, including but not limited to transmitters.For example, the example peak detectors having extended dynamic rangedisclosed by the present application can be used in an RF receiver, anRF transceiver, or any other RF device, and is not necessarily limitedto an RF transmitter. Thus, transmitter 100 is used as a specificexample of any “RF device” in the present application.

Peak detectors 250A, 250C, 350, and 450 are configured to overcome theto deficiencies of conventional designs which typically exhibit lowsensitivity, limited dynamic range, and are prone to attenuating aninput signal. The present inventors have realized that by harnessing thenon-linear response characteristics displayed by some semiconductorswitching devices, their novel and inventive solution succeeds inproviding an approach to peak detection characterized by improvedsensitivity, extended dynamic range, and positive signal gain, all ofwhich represent significant advantages over the conventional art.

Referring first to FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIG. 2A shows peak detector 250Ahaving extended dynamic range, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, while FIG. 2B is a graph contrasting the positivegain achievable through implementation of one or more embodiments of thepresent invention, with the less than unity gain typically provided byconventional peak detectors. As shown in FIG. 2A, peak detector 250Acomprises differential output 258 a coupled to supply voltage V_(DD) ofpeak detector 250A by load 270 a and node 256 a, and coupled to groundby switching devices 260 a and 260 b, also through node 256 a, which isa node shared in common by differential output 258 a and correspondingpower terminals 264 a and 264 b of respective switching devices 260 aand 260 b. In addition, peak detector 250A comprises differential output258 b coupled to supply voltage V_(DD) of peak detector 250A by load 270b and node 256 b, and coupled to ground by switching devices 260 c and260 d, also through node 256 b, which is a node shared in common bydifferential output 258 b and corresponding power terminals 264 c and264 d of respective switching devices 260 c and 260 d. FIG. 2A alsoshows the output of peak detector 250A as V_(OUT), which may be takenacross differential outputs 258 a and 258 b.

According to the embodiment of peak detector 250A, switching devices 260a, 260 b, 260 c, and 260 d (hereinafter “switching devices 260 a-260d”), which may be nominally identical devices, for example, can comprisen-channel field-effect transistors (NFETs). For example, switchingdevices 260 a-260 d may comprise metal-insulator-semiconductor FETs(MISFETs), such as metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOSFETs), as representedin FIG. 2A. Where, as in the embodiment of peak detector 250A, switchingdevices 260 a-260 d comprise NMOS devices, corresponding power terminals264 a, 264 b, 264 c, and 264 d (hereinafter “power terminals 264 a-264d”) can be seen to comprise corresponding drain terminals of NMOSswitching devices 260 a-260 d. Also shown in FIG. 2A are power terminals266 a, 266 b, 266 c, and 266 d (hereinafter “power terminals 266 a-266d”), which for NMOS switching devices 260 a-260 d may be characterizedas their corresponding respective source terminals, for example.

Switching devices 260 a-260 d of peak detector 250A also includerespective control terminals 262 a, 262 b, 262 c, and 262 d (hereinafter“control terminals 262 a-262 d”), e.g., respective gate terminals. Asshown in FIG. 2A, control terminals 262 a-262 d each receive a commonbias voltage V_(b) through biasing resistor R_(b). In addition, controlterminals 262 a and 262 b are capacitively coupled to respectivedifferential inputs 252 a and 252 b of peak detector 250A throughrespective input capacitors 254 a and 254 b. As further shown by FIG.2A, according to the embodiment of peak detector 250A, differentialinput 252 a receives positive differential voltage signal V_(IN+) anddifferential input 252 b receives negative differential voltage signalV_(IN−), although the polarity of those differential input signals canbe reversed in the present embodiment.

Loads 270 a and 270 b are shown to comprise passive loads in the presentembodiment. Loads 270 a and 270 b comprise parallel arrangements ofrespective capacitor and resistor pairs 272 a/274 a and 272 b/274 b. Asmay be understood from the arrangement shown in FIG. 2A, in operation,switching devices 260 a and 260 b, and load 270 a serve as input devicesand an input load for peak detector 250A, while switching devices 260 cand 260 d, and load 270 b provide replica circuit elements for thoseinput components.

FIG. 2B shows a graph of the direct-current (DC) V_(OUT) as a functionof peak input voltage V_(IN), and contrasts the performance of peakdetector 250A with the typical performance seen from conventional peakdetection circuits. Dashed line 202 represents the exemplary case ofunity gain, where the DC output of a peak detector matches the peakvoltage input without attenuation or positive gain. As shown byconventional peak detector output line 204, typical conventional designsimpose some attenuation, so that the effective output from conventionalpeak detectors is less than the actual peak input voltage. By contrast,the embodiment of peak detector 250A harnesses the second order voltageamplification produced by, for example, by NMOS switching devices 260a-260 d, which do not cancel as a result of differential signalprocessing, to provide output voltage 258 that is enhanced by a factorproportional to the square of peak input voltage V.

Such a contrast is highlighted by the graph shown in FIG. 2B, whichshows the DC output in two areas of interests, region “A” and region“B”. Region A corresponds to a very low RF input to the peak detector.In that input range, both the conventional peak to detector andembodiments of the present invention can be expected to produce aparabolic response curve, e.g., the output voltage is proportional tothe square of the peak input voltage for low RF inputs. However, as thepeak RF input value rises, as shown in region “B”, the performance ofconventional peak detector circuits yields a more closely linearresponse, while embodiments of the present invention continue to producea response that is enhanced by a factor proportional to the square ofthe peak input voltage.

It is noted that beyond region “B”, the conventional peak detectordesign will encounter a saturation region in which the response curvewill approach flatness (saturation region not shown in FIG. 2B).Analogously, beyond region “B”, e.g., in the saturation region of theconventional peak detector, the response curve of embodiments of thepresent invention will become compressed. Nevertheless, forsubstantially all peak input RF signal values consistent with normaltransmitter operation, embodiments of the present invention enable apeak detector output greater than may be achieved by a conventional peakdetector receiving a substantially similar peak voltage input, therebyproviding greater sensitivity and extended dynamic range. Moreover, insome implementations, as shown by FIG. 2B, a peak detector designedaccording to the present inventive concepts can produce a positive gain,i.e., a gain of greater than approximately 1.0.

Moving to FIG. 2C, FIG. 2C shows peak detector 250C having extendeddynamic range, according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. Circuit elements common to both peak detectors 250C and peakdetector 250A, in FIG. 2A, and sharing the same reference numbers, maybe seen to correspond respectively to one another. Comparison of the twofigures reveals that unlike peak detector 250A, wherein correspondingpower terminals 266 a-266 d of switching devices 260 a-260 d, e.g.,source terminals, are tied directly to ground, in the embodiment of FIG.2C, corresponding power terminals 266 a-266 d share node 258 in common,and are collectively coupled to ground through node 258 and tail currentsource 259. The presence of current source 259, as shown in FIG. 2C,generates a large impedance, thereby improving the common mode rejectionratio by providing peak detector 250C with greater immunity to groundnoise.

Continuing to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows peak detector 350 having extendeddynamic range, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.Peak detector 350 includes differential outputs 358 a and 358 b, nodes356 a and 356 b, and switching devices 360 a-360 d including controlterminals 362 a-362 d and power terminals 364 a-364 d and 366 a-366 d,corresponding respectively to differential outputs 258 a and 258 b,nodes 256 a and 256 b, and switching devices 260 a-260 d includingcontrol terminals 262 a-262 d and power terminals 264 a-264 d and 266a-266 d, in FIGS. 2A and 2C. It is noted that although the embodiment ofFIG. 3 shows power terminals 366 a-366 d, e.g., NMOS sources, directlytied to ground, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2A, in other embodimentspower terminals 366 a-366 d may collectively couple to ground through acommon node and a tail current source, as shown by peak detector 250C,in FIG. 2C, for example.

Peak detector 350, in FIG. 3, also includes differential inputs 352 aand 352 b capacitively coupled to respective control terminals 362 a and362 b by respective input capacitors 354 a and 354 b, corresponding tothe arrangement shown for differential inputs 252 a and 252 b, in FIGS.2A and 2C. It is noted that bias voltage V_(b1) and biasing resistorsR_(b1), in FIG. 3, correspond respectively to bias voltage V_(b) andbiasing resistors R_(b), in FIGS. 2A and 2C. Unlike the embodiments ofthose previous figures, however, which comprised passive loads 270 a and270 b, the embodiment of FIG. 3 includes active loads 370 a and 370 bcoupling respective differential outputs 358 a and 358 b to supplyvoltage V_(DD) through respective nodes 356 a and 356 b. Moreover,active load 370 b is independently driven by the differential inputsignals to peak detector 350.

As shown in FIG. 3, load 370 a comprises switching devices (alsoreferred to simply as “devices” in the present application) 380 a and380 b coupling differential output 358 a to V_(DD) through node 356 a,which is a node shared in common by differential output 358 a,corresponding power terminals 364 a and 364 b of respective switchingdevices 360 a and 360 b, and corresponding power terminals 386 a and 386b of respective switching devices 380 a and 380 b. Load 370 b comprisesswitching devices (also referred to simply as “devices” in the presentapplication) 380 c and 380 d coupling differential output 358 b toV_(DD) through node 356 b, which is a node shared in common bydifferential output 358 b, corresponding power terminals 364 c and 364 dof respective switching devices 360 c and 360 d, and corresponding powerterminals 386 c and 386 d of respective switching devices 380 c and 380d.

According to the embodiment of peak detector 350, switching devices 380a, 380 b, 380 c, and 380 d (hereinafter “switching devices 380 a-380d”), which may be nominally identical devices, for example, can comprisep-channel FETs (PFETs). For example, switching devices 380 a-380 d maycomprise PMOS devices, as represented in FIG. 3. Where, as in theembodiment of peak detector 350, switching devices 380 a-380 d comprisePMOS devices, corresponding power terminals 384 a, 384 b, 384 c, and 384d (hereinafter “power terminals 384 a-384 d”) can be seen to comprisecorresponding source terminals of PMOS switching devices 380 a-380 d.Also shown in FIG. 3 are power terminals 386 a, 386 b, 386 c, and 386 d(hereinafter “power terminals 386 a-386 d”), which for PMOS switchingdevices 380 a-380 d may be characterized as their correspondingrespective drain terminals, for example.

Switching devices 380 a-380 d of peak detector 350 also includerespective control terminals 382 a, 382 b, 382 c, and 382 d (hereinafter“control terminals 382 a-382 d”), e.g., respective gate terminals. Asshown in FIG. 3, control terminals 382 a-382 d each receive a commonbias voltage V_(b2) through biasing resistor R_(b2). In addition,control terminals 382 c and 382 d are capacitively coupled to respectivedifferential inputs 352 c and 352 d of peak detector 350 throughrespective input capacitors 354 c and 354 d. As further shown by FIG. 3,according to the embodiment of peak detector 350, differential inputs352 a and 352 c receive positive differential voltage signal V_(IN+) anddifferential inputs 352 b and 352 d receive negative differentialvoltage signal V_(IN−).

As is true for peak detectors 250A and 250C, shown in respective FIGS.2A and 2C, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 harnesses the second orderamplification characteristics of transistor switching devices. However,the additional, and inverted, second order amplification produced byPMOS switching devices 380 c and 380 d, when differentially combinedwith the second order effects produced by NMOS switching devices 360 aand 360 d, can result in peak detector 350 having still greatersensitivity, greater dynamic range, and being capable of producing morepositive gain than even the embodiments disclosed by previous FIGS. 2Aand 2C of the present application.

Referring finally to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows peak detector 450 havingextended dynamic range, according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. Peak detector 450 includes differential outputs 458 a and 458b, nodes 456 a and 456 b, and switching devices 460 a-460 d includingcontrol terminals 462 a-462 d and power terminals 464 a-464 d and 466a-466 d, corresponding respectively to differential outputs 258 a and258 b, nodes 256 a and 256 b, and switching devices 260 a-260 dincluding control terminals 262 a-262 d and power terminals 264 a-264 dand 266 a-266 d, in FIGS. 2A and 2C. It is noted that although theembodiment of FIG. 4 shows power terminals 466 a-466 d, e.g., NMOSsources, directly tied to ground, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2A, inother embodiments power terminals 466 a-466 d may collectively couple toground through a common node and a tail current source, as shown by peakdetector 250C, in FIG. 2C, for example.

Peak detector 450, in FIG. 4, also includes differential inputs 452 aand 452 b capacitively coupled to respective control terminals 462 a and462 b by respective input capacitors 454 a and 454 b, corresponding tothe arrangement shown for differential inputs 252 a and 252 b, in FIGS.2A and 2C. Unlike the embodiments shown by any previous figure, however,loads 470 a and 470 b comprise respective PMOS diodes 480 a and 480 bcoupling respective differential outputs 458 a and 458 b to supplyvoltage V_(DD). In addition to having an extended dynamic range, as dopeak detectors 250A, 250C, and 350, shown in respective FIGS. 2A, 2C,and 3, the presence of diodes 480 a and 480 b in peak detector 450result in peak detector 450 providing a linear output as V_(OUT).

Thus, by describing a peak detector designed to harness the second orderamplification effects produced by semiconductor switching devices, thepresent application discloses a peak detector having high sensitivity,extended dynamic range, and capable of producing positive gain.Moreover, by describing numerous implementational variations directed toincreasing ground noise immunity, further enhancing sensitivity anddynamic range, further increasing available gain, and producing a linearoutput, the present application discloses a highly flexible andcustomizable approach to providing a peak detector having extendeddynamic range.

From the above description of the invention it is manifest that varioustechniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the presentinvention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while theinvention has been described with specific reference to certainembodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize thatchanges can be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand the scope of the invention. The described embodiments are to beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Itshould also be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is capable of manyrearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

1. A peak detector having extended dynamic range and comprising: a firstdifferential output coupled to a supply voltage of said peak detector bya first load and coupled to ground by first and second switchingdevices; a second differential output coupled to said supply voltage bya second load and coupled to ground by third and fourth switchingdevices; wherein respective control terminals of said first, second,third, and fourth switching devices receive a common bias voltage, andwherein said respective first and second control terminals areconfigured as differential inputs of said peak detector.
 2. The peakdetector of claim 1, wherein said peak detector produces a gain ofgreater than approximately 1.0.
 3. The peak detector of claim 1, whereinsaid first, second, third, and fourth switching devices comprisemetal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFETs).
 4. Thepeak detector of claim 1, wherein corresponding first power terminals ofsaid first and second switching devices share a first common nodefurther shared by said first differential output, and correspondingfirst power terminals of said third and fourth switching devices share asecond common node further shared by said second differential output,and wherein corresponding second power terminals of said first, second,third, and fourth switching devices are coupled to ground.
 5. The peakdetector of claim 4, wherein said corresponding second power terminalsof said first, second, third, and fourth switching devices share anothercommon node coupled to ground by a current source.
 6. The peak detectorof claim 1, wherein said first and second loads each comprise at leastone active load.
 7. The peak detector of claim 6, wherein said first,second, third, and fourth switching devices comprise n-channel devicesand said at least one active load comprises a p-channel device.
 8. Thepeak detector of claim 1, wherein said first and second loads compriserespective first and second diodes coupling said respective first andsecond differential outputs to said supply voltage.
 9. The peak detectorof claim 1, wherein: said first load comprises first and second deviceshaving corresponding first power terminals coupled to said supplyvoltage and corresponding second power terminals sharing a first commonnode further shared by said first differential output; said second loadcomprises third and fourth devices having corresponding first powerterminals coupled to said supply voltage and corresponding second powerterminals sharing a second common node further shared by said seconddifferential output; and wherein respective control terminals of saidfirst, second, third, and fourth devices receive another common biasvoltage, and wherein said respective third and fourth control terminalsof said third and fourth devices are configured as differential inputsof said peak detector.
 10. The peak detector of claim 1, wherein saidpeak detector is a part of a radio frequency (RF) transmitterimplemented as part of a mobile communication device.
 11. A transmitterincluding a peak detector having extended dynamic range, said peakdetector comprising: a first differential output coupled to a supplyvoltage of said transmitter by a first load and coupled to ground byfirst and second switching devices; a second differential output coupledto said supply voltage by a second load and coupled to ground by thirdand fourth switching devices; wherein respective control terminals ofsaid first, second, third, and fourth switching devices receive a commonbias voltage, and wherein said respective first and second controlterminals are configured as differential inputs for a transmit signal ofsaid transmitter.
 12. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein said peakdetector produces a gain of greater than approximately 1.0.
 13. Thetransmitter of claim 11, wherein said first, second, third, and fourthswitching devices comprise metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effecttransistors (MISFETs).
 14. The transmitter of claim 11, whereincorresponding first power terminals of said first and second switchingdevices share a first common node further shared by said firstdifferential output, and corresponding first power terminals of saidthird and fourth switching devices share a second common node furthershared by said second differential output, and wherein correspondingsecond power terminals of said first, second, third, and fourthswitching devices are coupled to ground.
 15. The transmitter of claim14, wherein said corresponding second power terminals of said first,second, third, and fourth switching devices share another common nodecoupled to ground by a current source.
 16. The transmitter of claim 11,wherein said first and second loads each comprise at least one activeload.
 17. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said first, second,third, and fourth switching devices comprise n-channel devices and saidat least one active load comprises a p-channel device.
 18. Thetransmitter of claim 11, wherein said first and second loads compriserespective first and second diodes coupling said respective first andsecond differential outputs to said supply voltage.
 19. The transmitterof claim 11, wherein: said first load comprises first and second deviceshaving corresponding first power terminals coupled to said supplyvoltage and corresponding second power terminals sharing a first commonnode further shared by said first differential output; said second loadcomprises third and fourth devices having corresponding first powerterminals coupled to said supply voltage and corresponding second powerterminals sharing a second common node further shared by said seconddifferential output; and wherein respective control terminals of saidfirst, second, third, and fourth devices receive another common biasvoltage, and wherein said respective third and fourth control terminalsof said third and fourth devices are configured as differential inputsfor said transmit signal.
 20. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein saidtransmitter is a part of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver implementedas part of a mobile communication device.